IDOT, Law Enforcement Crack Down on Drunk Drivers Labor Day Weekend to Avoid Fatal Crashes

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Police and hundreds of municipal and county police departments across the state announced today a zero tolerance approach for drunk and drug-impaired driving as part of the Labor Day holiday weekend “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign.

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Aledo Times Record - Aledo, IL

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Posted Aug. 27, 2014 at 9:23 AM

Posted Aug. 27, 2014 at 9:23 AM

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Police and hundreds of municipal and county police departments across the state announced today a zero tolerance approach for drunk and drug-impaired driving as part of the Labor Day holiday weekend “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign.

On Aug.15, Illinois law enforcement agencies started the crackdown on impaired drivers in an effort to save lives. The stepped-up Labor Day effort comes as 2014 fatalities remain consistently lower compared to the same point last year. This final summer push, which runs through September 1, seeks to keep motor vehicle fatalities as low as possible through what can be a very dangerous holiday on Illinois roads. As of August 26, Illinois motor vehicle fatalities are at 562, which is 83 lower compared to the same timeframe last year.

“We are excited that seat belt use is up again this year and year-to-date motor vehicle fatalities on Illinois roadways are lower compared to this point in 2013, but we will never be complacent when it comes to safety,” said Erica Borggren, Acting Illinois Transportation Secretary. “Far too many people die each year on Illinois roads, and too often, they die at the hands of a drunk driver or because they failed to buckle up.”

Recent years have seen Illinois motorists buckling up at higher rates than ever. For the first time, over 94 percent of Illinois motorists are buckling up. Based on the annual statewide observational survey conducted in June 2014, the estimated safety belt usage rate for 2014 is 94.1 percent, an increase of .4 percentage points from the 93.7 percent in 2013.

The increase in belt use and the reduction in drunk driving has resulted in an encouraging decrease in Illinois motor vehicle fatalities over the last 10 years. Illinois motor vehicle fatalities totaled 1,454 in 2002. Last year, 991 people were killed on Illinois roads, marking the 5th straight year that Illinois motor vehicle fatalities were less than 1,000.

“We are encouraged that fatalities are decreasing on Illinois roads, but one-third still die at the hands of an impaired driver and nearly half of those are not wearing seat belts,” Borggren continued. “However, while our overall fatality numbers have declined, vehicle miles traveled have started to increase again and any improvement in drunk driving and unbuckled fatality numbers is stagnant. This cannot continue.”

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In a new effort to bring further attention to dangerous driving behavior and continue the downward trend in motor vehicle fatalities, IDOT has launched a fresh and innovative advertising campaign. The campaign utilizes digital and social media to reach those drivers who are most-often involved in drunk driving crashes, most likely to drink and drive and not buckle up.

A TV commercial airing this week features Michael Rooker, who plays Merle Dixon from the popular series “The Walking Dead,” promoting a website series for a mature audience titled “The Driving Dead.” The series will include short videos, also featuring Rooker, that will be publicized on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Hulu and YouTube, involving a cast of characters living in a Zombie-filled, post-apocalyptic world. The situations the characters find themselves cleverly depicted dealing with the dangers of driving impaired and not buckling up.

Fans can connect with “The Driving Dead” on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for up-to-date news, behind-the-scenes footage and future episodes of the series and by logging on at www.TheDrivingDeadSeries.com.